PG Diploma in Computer Aided Drug Design
This Diploma in Computer Aided Drug Design course provides students with an understanding of key concepts in Rational Drug Design using a problem-based approach in a series of lectures, learning resources and Webinars, which enable the students to apply the concepts in Drug design. Key skills training in the research process, a fundamental molecular design using sources is included in this module.
Rationale: The main reason for offering this course are
To create a workforce in Computer Aided Drug Design with rapidly focused on international in addition to national scenario. Provide in depth learning in Rational Drug Design education, which will serve as a focus for research into local, regional and global advances in drug design and skills in response to the urgent and increasingly complex challenges of the drug discovery.
Goals and Objectives
This course is designed to provide foundation knowledge of assessment of tools related to the computer aided drug design. A student who successfully completes this course should be able to demonstrate the following
- Knowledge and skills needed for computer aided drug design.
- Understanding how computer aided drug design is executed at advanced levels.
- Ability to perform the process of ligand based and structure based drug design.
- Understanding the basic principles rational drug design to aid the dug discovery process.
- Ability to apply skills related to in silico drug design on various drug targets.
Structure of Program:
This course is intended for professionals, researchers and students from wide range of backgrounds who aim to develop their knowledge and insights pertaining to the Computer Aided Drug Design. The course in designed to provide critical and practical skills to analyze, evaluate, design and implement solution and strategies with regards to rational drug design.
Precisely designing the drug by computer aided drug design skills are high on the agenda of drug discovery process. Addressing these challenges requires professionals with a high degree of specialization and interdisciplinary approach as drug discovery process is interdisciplinary. For the advanced protocols on drug design there is a great demand for trained experts. In view of the huge focus on CADD there is a tremendous need for specially trained manpower for supporting the institutions and research companies involved in the drug research at both the grass roots levels and at the organization levels. Ultimately, computer aided drug design experts are necessary for pharma industry and academia of higher educations.
Curriculum design:
The E-Learning Material shall have the four quadrant approach; as per UGC Regulations, 2016 taking into consideration the following, namely
- Quadrant-I is e-Tutorial; which shall contain: Video and Audio Content in an organised form, Animation, Simulations, Video Demonstrations, Virtual Labs, etc, along with the transcription of the video.
- Quadrant-II is e-Content; which shall contain; self-instructional material, e-Books, illustrations, case studies, presentations etc, and also contain Web Resources such as further references, Related Links, Open source Content on Internet, Video, Case Studies, books including e-books, research papers and journals, Anecdotal information, Historical development of the subject, Articles, etc.
- Quadrant-III is the Discussion forum for raising of doubts and clarifying them on a near real time basis by the Course Coordinator or his team.
- Quadrant-IV is Assessment, which shall contain; Problems and Solutions, which could be in the form of Multiple Choice Questions, Fill in the blanks, Matching Questions, Short Answer Questions, Long Answer Questions, Quizzes, Assignments and solutions, Discussion forum topics and setting up the FAQs, Clarifications on general misconceptions.
Each unit will be projected as modules and the content for each module will be put under the four quadrants as mentioned above. Each module accounts for 10 - 12 hours of learning. One credit will be awarded for 30 hours of learning including participating in discussion forums and other interactions, working on assignments and activities designated for the course etc. Totally at the end of the Diploma program 40 credits will be awarded. Given below is courses divided per semester as per the online education guidelines.
First Semester: Structure based drug design (5 Units)
- Unit I: Drug discovery strategies Unit II: Molecular basis of drug action Unit III: Homology modelling Unit IV: De novo drug design (Fragment based drug design) Unit V: Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics
Second Semester: Ligand based drug design (5 Units)
-
Unit I: Conventional QSAR (Two dimensional, 2D)
Unit II: Molecular modelling
Unit III: Three dimensional QSAR
Unit IV: Pharmacophore modelling and mapping
Unit V: Virtual screening
B. Pharm or B.Sc Degree in any discipline
With increasing demand of pharmaceutical industry, worlds of possibilities are available for graduates in terms of employment and research opportunities. Coupled with the growth of the global economy, the need for competent graduates with knowledge in computer aided drug design is tremendous in the international arena as well. Careers in CADD are so varied it is difficult to consider them as one category. Graduates of this programme can gain employment with pharmaceutical companies engaged in drug research, drug research bodies, government and non-government organizations as CADD expert and teaching faculty. As private pharma companies and industries are emphasizing more on developing advanced tools which can help in drug discovery process by reducing the time and money involved in drug research.
INR 40000/-
Forms
Kuvempu University
Bapuji College of Pharmacy, Davangere
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences
Govt. College of Pharmacy
The Tamilnadu Dr MGR Medical University, Chennai
JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty
Department / Subject Taught
Pharmaceutics
Jan 31, 2001
3 Years 0 Months
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Apr 17, 2004
1 Years 1 Months
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Jan 31, 2009
4 Years 9 Months
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Jun 30, 2011
2 Years 4 Months
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Till Date
13 Years 4 Months
My objective is to work in the field of medicinal chemistry as part of drug research for the betterment of pharma research and education.
Dr BR Prashantha Kumar is presently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. His research group is working on thiazolidinediones or glitazones for the past 18 years. These glitazones act as ‘insulin sensitizer’s providing a novel means to improve glycaemic control by reducing insulin resistance. These glitazones being lipophilic, they can enter the nucleus where they bind to the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma): thus act as PPARgamma agonists. In this context, designed a library of glitazones based on computer aided drug design techniques in our laboratory and synthesized using various synthetic routes. About, 500 novel glitazones are screened for their PPAR? agonistic activity and for their antidiabetic activity. Some of the compounds have shown promising activity when compared to the pioglitazone. Published about 56 original research articles on glitazones in the peer reviewed journals and one granted patent. Currently, working on enhancing efficacy of these glitazones and on the other hand establishing toxicity profile for the developed glitazones. He had a grant from DHR, New Delhi, to the tune of 50 lakhs to conduct training program on drug chemistry and from DST SERB to the tune of 32 Lakhs. He has two DST women scientists in his research group and one DST Inspire fellow pursuing their PhD program.
Drug Research on Glitazones targetting Cancer, Neurodegenration and Diabetes via PPAR-gamma receptors.